Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio today announced the signing of three new coaches: assistant head coach Steve Shafer, running backs coach Anthony Lynn and tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts. Del Rio's staff is now at 14, with one strength and conditioning coach and a defensive assistant not yet announced.
Shafer, 62, enters his 35th year of coaching and his 19th season in the NFL. In 2001, he served as assistant head coach and secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens for the third season. He was part of the Ravens' 2000 Super Bowl championship team, coaching All-Pros Rod Woodson and Chris McAlister.
Before joining Brian Billick's staff, Shafer tutored the Carolina Panthers' defensive backs in 1998, with his squad finishing fourth in the NFL with 19 interceptions. Prior to coaching the Oakland Raiders' secondary from 1995 to '97, he was the defensive coordinator at San Diego State in 1994. Shafer coached the defensive backs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1991-93) and the Los Angeles Rams (1983-90).
Shafer was a five-year defensive back for the CFL's B.C. Lions after being drafted in the 11th round in 1963 by the San Francisco 49ers. He was a quarterback and defensive back at Utah State. He and his wife, Jane, have a son, Don, and a daughter, Shawn.
Lynn, 34, comes to Jacksonville after spending the last three seasons as a special teams assistant for the Denver Broncos. He joined the staff in August 2000 after his playing career was cut short because of repeated neck stingers. Lynn was one of the Broncos' top special teams players during his five years in Denver and brought an immediate impact to the special teams unit when he left the playing field and joined the coaching staff. In 2001, Denver's kickoff coverage team ranked third in the AFC, as opponents began their drives on average at their own 26.8 yard line.
Lynn played seven seasons in the NFL as a fullback, including five with the Broncos (1993-94, 1997-99). He was a member of the back-to-back Super Bowl champion teams in 1997 and '98. He was a college standout at Texas Tech, rushing for 1,911 yards and 17 touchdowns on 481 carries for his career. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors as a junior, when he ran for 884 yards and eight touchdowns on 224 carries. A native of Celina, Texas, Lynn and his wife Cynda have two children, D'Anton and Danielle.
Roberts, 37, has gained a wealth of championship experience in a very short time. He joined Howard Schnellenberger's coaching staff at Florida Atlantic University in 1999 after finishing up a football career that produced two Super Bowl championships with the Dallas Cowboys and a two national championships at Miami (Fla.). Roberts served as the receivers coach at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton the last two years.
Roberts was recognized as one of the NFL's top blocking tight ends and was a key figure in Emmitt Smith's rise to the NFL rushing title in 1991. Selected in the eighth round of the 1988 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, Roberts was a member of two Super Bowl champion teams with the Cowboys in 1992 and '93.
Roberts was also a member of national championship teams at Miami, in 1983 under Schnellenberger and again in 1987 under Jimmy Johnson. A native of Hollywood, Fla., Roberts and his wife, Angel, have three children Avery, Austin, and Alyssa. #
